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Angel City interim coach Becki Tweed continues to adjust to new role

July 8, 2023

Things have moved quickly for Becki Tweed.

In January, she was hired as an assistant coach after three seasons at NJ/NY Gotham FC. Five months later, she was promoted to interim coach, replacing Freya Coombe.

In four games since Tweed took over, Angel City FC has yet to lose heading into Sunday’s home game against the North Carolina Courage (5 p.m., BSSC, Paramount+).

“I’m a very day-to-day person,” said Tweed, whose club has gone 2-0-2 under her watch. “Like, let’s go one day at a time and make sure every day you kind of go through the process of what makes the day brilliant.

“I don’t know if it’s normal. I think you’re never really ready to be anything … to be a head coach, but you adapt. I think the last few weeks have been really eye-opening for me and I think as an individual I’ve learned a lot, but I’ve had incredible support from (assistant coach) Eleri (Earnshaw) and from (goalkeeping coach) Dan (Ball) and from the rest of the staff here. And I think we’re going day to day and we’re in a routine and we’re in a good spot. The players have been fantastic and we’re going to continue to grow and go one day at a time.”

The Courage began the week in first place in the NWSL thanks to a four-game winning streak.

“North Carolina is another team that is in form right now,” Tweed said. “They’re getting results. They’re at the top of the league, organized and well coached.

“They’ve lost players to the World Cup also, but the players that they’ve brought in do similar jobs. We’ve had some time to sit down and watch them and think about where we can hurt them and the threats that we can bring to them.

“This league is wild, right? Anyone can beat anyone on the day. We just need to be the best versions of ourselves and continue to grow from performance to performance.”

Henry update

French star Amandine Henry, signed by Angel City FC on June 1, was expected to join the team after the World Cup, but the midfielder was kept off of the French World Cup roster due to a calf injury.

Henry could be arriving sooner than later, but recovery is first.

“I don’t have a timeline,” Tweed said. “I think obviously, for her right now, it’s disappointing that she’s not able to play in the World Cup … so we just have to respect that and give her time and space and make sure she’s mentally ready to come in when she comes in.”

Notes

Jun Endo, who has been out since May 27 with a knee injury, will be available for Sunday’s game and will then depart to join Japan for the World Cup. …

Defender M.A Vignola earned a spot on the NWSL Best XI team for June. However, she suffered an ankle injury in last week’s scoreless draw at Gotham FC and will not play against North Carolina. …

Sunday is Angel City’s last game before a three-week break. It will return for a Challenge Cup home game July 29 against the Portland Thorns. The next league game is Aug. 19 at Racing Louisville FC.